Combining extraordinary academics with the highest military principles of camaraderie, focus, leadership, integrity, compassion, poise, honor and respect, SMA's mission is to graduate young men and women who will confidently define their personal and unique goals for success in a multi-cultural and globalized world.

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Christina Bowman

Board ChairLTG (Ret) Howard G. Crowell Jr.

Board Chair AffiliationRetired

General Info

Organization DBA

DBA

0

0

Tax Exempt StatusPublic Supported Charity

Incorporation Year2002

Awarded competitive grant from Community Foundation in the last 5 years?Yes

The Sarasota Military Academy is a high-performing public charter school serving four surrounding counties. Its academic program focuses on college-prep curriculum and includes a collaboration with State College of Florida's dual enrollment program for qualifying high school students. SMA offers Advanced Placement courses, a traditional diploma track, and the IB (International Baccalaureate) program. SMA's academic programs are diverse so that all students seeking to achieve a high school diploma can be successful.

The Academy has expanded this year to include a middle school program on a second campus called SMA Preparatory Middle School which serves the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.

SMA Cadets demonstrate their patriotism by faithfully participating in the Veteran's and Memorial day parades and Wreaths Across America program, placing thousands of remembrance wreaths on graves at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

SMA's enrollment waiting list climbs every year~SMA cannot currently serve all the students and families that want their child to attend this unique Academy experience. Even though SMA operates at a fiscal disadvantage by not receiving 100% of allotted tax dollars, it still operates its budget in the black with a cash reserve in excess of 1 million dollars.

SMA sees its role in the local community as an educational organization that sets the standard for school choice, and charter school management in particular. SMA aims to provide an educational environment for a diverse student population with a focus on honor, respect, and patriotism~requirements for good citizenship.

Needs Statement

1. IPAD AirIIs for faculty: $650 each. SMA aims to equip every faculty member with IPADs to provide technology options in the classrooms and across disciplines. SMA's faculty are using Google Site applications to communicate to their students directly and in collaborative fashions. The response from both faculty and students is overwhelming positive.

The Sarasota Military Academy is where parents can bring their children to grow up in a safe and stimulating environment. SMA promotes Cadet-centric leadership. The Cadets lead Cadets and every student has an opportunity to learn how to lead themselves, small groups, and if they desire, larger groups of Cadets. Realizing potential is what SMA is all about.

SMA, a public charter high school, is a part of the Sarasota County School District. To be classified as a “charter” school, the organizers of the school must submit an independent charter concept for the school that defines its unique characteristics that will serve a distinct student population apart from the typical district school program. A charter school works within the County school district but functions with distinct independence through its own governing board of directors. SMA's charter indicates that the discipline and teaching approach will be fashioned after the JROTC program, the Army training style that employs discipline and a military structure that promotes respect for authority, self, others, and the United States of America.

Expanding to the middle years curriculum allows the Academy to work with young adults earlier to enrich and advance both their academic acumen and their character development through the International Baccalaureate educational program and the Medal of Honor character development program.

The school is a non-profit, 501(C)3 corporation and does not charge tuition. Although SMA is funded with tax dollars, it does not receive the same per-student funding as district schools and therefore, functions at a fiscal disadvantage. The shortfall must be made up from efficient financial oversight as well as steady fund-raising campaigns. Academic performance is measured in the same fashion as district schools, through the FCAT testing system. All qualified Sarasota county 6th through 12th grade students are welcome to apply for admission. SMA also accepts qualified students from Manatee, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties as well.

The aim of the Sarasota Military Academy is to provide an alternative approach to education that allows the student to reach his or her leadership potential within a structured and disciplined learning environment.

Areas Served

Areas Served

Area

FL- Manatee

FL- DeSoto

FL- Charlotte

FL- Sarasota

Areas Served Comments

SMA serves a diverse student population, from the wealthiest to the poorest zip codes in all counties listed. Distance and transportation obstacles are navigated to the best of SMA's ability, working within the fiscal parameters available to assist all qualified students, from any of these counties, to able able to participate in the SMA educational opportunity.

Service Categories

Primary Org TypeEducation

Secondary Org TypeYouth Development

Tertiary Org TypePublic & Societal Benefit

Statement from the Board Chair/Board President

The Sarasota Military Academy has no parallel! It is a public school requiring no tuition while producing a private school approach to learning. It is a superb example of a public, private partnership and one of the most important, successful and forward thinking charter schools anywhere.

As part of the initial group which started the Academyand I have gained much appreciation for its special nature as we have matured. As an “old soldier” I have long believed that the earlier young people learn the value of focus, structure, teamwork and discipline, the more quickly they grow into confident, productive and successful adults. This is why I think an environment like the Academy is so important to the development of future generations.

The small “family” atmosphere of SMA inculcates a sense ofbelonging not always recognized in larger institutions. It is this setting which enables the staff and faculty to impart the critical elements of leadership: knowledge, dedication, hard work, and consideration for others. Learning to lead others during one’s developing years pays enormous dividends later in life. That is part of the SMA experience.

It is important that the Academy grow, not in size but indepth by providing long-term financial stability along with dedicated mentors, supportive parents and loyal alumni. We must provide up-to-date physical structures and modern equipment to enhance the learning experiences of ourstudents. This will require further investment of financial resources to keep pace with these ever increasing needs.

Finally, SMA must continue to be a model to other schools,not just locally but nationwide, by maintaining the highest moral, ethical, athletic and academic standards in the nation.

Statement from the CEO/Executive Director

The Sarasota Military Academy is an outstanding college prep secondary school with over 90% of our graduates going on to college. We currently have recent graduates attending each of the U.S. Military Service Academies around our country.

The school currently enrolls approximately nearly 1,500 Cadets combined on from both campuses. Enrollment demand has been extremely strong over the past fourteen years, and SMA typically open each school year with about 100 potential students on the waiting list.

Each in-coming Cadet and family sign an agreement to abide by SMA's Honor Code which states that they "...will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate that in others." Each Cadet also agrees to do their personal best academically at all times; perform community service; and to always exhibit patriotism when given the opportunity.

SMA has a mandatory and random drug testing policy for all individuals on the high school campus~students, staff, and faculty. The drug testing policy came into effect in the early years of the academy by student choice and vote. This policy helps to keep our environment safe for the entire SMA family.

SMA Cadets wear the U.S. Army class "B" uniform and the SMA Prep middle schoolers were a similar styled civilian uniform. Progressing through the Army JROTC ranks, each student demonstrates academic talent combined with leadership skills. Cadets are taught appropriate courtesies which include addressing their instructors and campus guests as "Sir or Ma'm." In many ways, the Sarasota Military Academy is like a "Back to the Future" educational experience in that cadets are required to come to school looking sharp~hair properly groomed and wearing neat and trim uniforms at all times.

Instructors are carefully selected and they also willingly conform to the uniform policy. An excellent school begins with excellent teachers and SMA has the finest faculty.

The school's motto is "Honor~Honor in Self, Honor in Family, Honor in Community, and Honor in the United States of America."

SMA high school students mentor SMA Prep cadets in academics and activities. Peer tutoring is motivational and successful. The program benefits both the cadet mentors and cadet mentees. Both the mentors and mentees gain confidence in building interpersonal relationships, and they begin to see the value of helping others. Role modeling takes place. The younger students love being with the high schoolers, so absenteeism decreases.

This program is powerful for the high school cadets who have struggled themselves in reading and math and have overcome grade-level deficiencies. They can relate and empathize with the middle school cadets' struggles. They can and do show their mentees how they overcame their own learning obstacles.

New to the Cadet-to-Cadet mentoring program is the SMA Prep Jr. Raider club. High school cadets on the Raider team will be the "coaches" for the middle schoolers for this exciting extracurricular athletic activity.

Budget$5,000

Category Education, General/Other Elementary & Secondary Education

Program Linked to Organizational StrategyYes

Population ServedAdolescents Only (13-19 years) Adolescents Only (13-19 years) Adolescents Only (13-19 years)

Short Term SuccessThe SMA Cadet-to-Cadet mentoring program inspires both high school and middle school students to engage in learning and improving in areas of math and reading. By the end of a semester, twenty middle schoolers will increase their grade-level performances in math and reading.

Long Term SuccessThe goal of the SMA Cadet-to-Cadet mentoring program is to get as close to 100% grade-level math and reading proficiencies for every Cadet and see a 100% high school graduation rate from all SMA students.

Program Success MonitoringThe SMA exceptional student liaisons and reading teachers will track assessment scores for the mentees. Those performance data will provide a means to track the program's successes.

Program Success ExamplesThis is the first year of the program. SMA has received a matching grant for a bus that will allow for Cadets to travel to and from each campus for this mentoring program. Previously SMA high school Cadets mentored elementary students from other district schools in an after-school program. The SMA Cadet-to-Cadet mentoring program is internal and will be established with longevity in mind.

DescriptionSMA has developed and has engaged in a Literacy Initiative program that spans all content and elective classrooms on campus. The initiatives include reading, reading-by-the-numbers, writing, vocabulary, critical thinking, and digital literacy. SMA faculty receive continual professional development in literacy and implementing literacy in all content. Peer mentoring through the Cadet-to-Cadet mentoring program provides a multi-tier platform to engage and enforce literacy learning. The next step is to acquire the I-Ready reading and mathematics program subscription that identifies reading deficiencies and provides an individualized support system to assist in bringing students up to grade-level reading.

Budget$7,500

Category Education, General/Other Education, General/Other

Program Linked to Organizational StrategyYes

Population ServedAdolescents Only (13-19 years) Adolescents Only (13-19 years) Adolescents Only (13-19 years)

Short Term SuccessOn average, SMA graduates about 95% of its senior class, compared to the Sarasota County district's average of about 75% and second only to Pineview School for the Gifted (the national graduation average is 65%). Graduation criteria includes demonstration of literacy across all subject areas and the literacy program has been instrumental in supporting this remarkable graduation rate.

Long Term Success100% graduation rate is SMA's goal; an A grade for SMA every year from the Florida Department of Education, and literacy at grade-level proficiency for every single SMA student. If SMA can instill the importance of literacy for every student, the impact on the community and the country would be invaluable.

Program Success MonitoringThe Florida Department of Education requires all Florida public schools to perform standardized testing. As a public charter school, SMA participates in the annual assessment testing and receives a school grade based in large part to the students' test results. Literacy is a primary factor across the assessment board. In five of the last six years, SMA has received an A grade from the FDOE.

Program Success Examples"John" entered SMA as a ninth grader who read below grade level and failed his state assessment testing in a district middle school. John determined not to repeat his family illiteracy pattern and applied himself in SMA literacy and remedial reading program. By the end of tenth grade, John was reading at grade level. In the eleventh grade, John participated in the dual enrollment program between SMA and State College of Florida. John graduated from SMA in 2013 with over 40 hours of SCF college credit. In 2016, John graduated from USF and now holds a professional position in local law enforcement. John received many hours of peer tutoring at SMA and he gave back many of his own hours in tutoring and mentoring other struggling community youth.

Comments

Program Comments by Organization

SMA's unique educational environment attracts a myriad of individual students and in doing so, we are committed to providing programs that enhance the SMA educational experience.

Most programs offered by SMA are either run by volunteers or supported by volunteers. SMA simply does not have the means to hire out for every extracurricular program, so we endeavor to fill the need within the SMA family~teachers, staff, cadet family members, and community members.

Variety seasons all of life and SMA believes that is especially true for the high school educational experience. Equitation~offered as an elective course at SMA~is not only unique, it is really, really popular. Some of the cadets have never been around horses and here they have the opportunity to safely learn to ride and care for these magnificent creatures while learning about biology and nature. A small, charter school like SMA can provide and oversee such a unique class. This is the kind of thing that we strive to do to provide an all-around wholesome and memorable school experience and to help the students want to get up in the morning and come to campus rather than thinking of ways to skip out.

Our society and local community needs to realize that quality citizens are not born~they are raised and schooling is an integral part of that raising.

CEO/Executive Director

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Christina Bowman

CEO Term StartJan 2014

CEO/Executive Director Emailchristina.bowman@oursma.org

Experience

Christina Bowman

Executive Director of Schools, SMA

Ms. Bowman's educational leadership experience began in her home state of Kentucky first as a science and math teacher in the public school system. She moved into administration from there and served as assistant principal in both Kentucky and in the Sarasota County school district. Before becoming Director of Schools for SMA , Ms. Bowman served for six years as assistant head of school for the Academy and one year as head of school for the high school campus.

Former CEOs/Executive Directors

Name

Term

Senior Staff

Name

Title

Mr. Steve Kok

Business Manager

Robin Livingston

Head of School, High School Campus

Thomas Vara

Head of School, Prep Middle School Campus

Staff & Volunteer Statistics

Full Time Staff131

Part Time Staff5

Staff Retention Rate %96

Professional DevelopmentYes

Contractors3

Volunteers115

Management Reports to BoardYes

CEO/Executive Director Formal EvaluationYes

Senior Management Formal EvaluationYes

Non-Management Formal EvaluationYes

Collaborations

State College of Florida, Dual-Enrollment program

Sarasota County Technical Institute

Sailor Circus program

Sarasota Yacht Club~Sailing program

Suncoast Communities Bloodbank

Sarasota National Cemetery, Wreaths Across America program

Dolphin Aviation, flying program

Cirrus Aviation, ground-school training program

Rotary International, Interact Club

Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce, Youth Leadership Sarasota program

External Assessments and Accreditations

Assessment/Accreditation

Year

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

International Baccalaureate Organization

Awards & Recognition

Award/Recognition

Organization

Year

Five-Star, A-Rated High School

Florida Department of Education

2013

Risk Management Provisions

Accident and Injury Coverage

Automobile Insurance

Automobile Insurance and Umbrella or Excess Insurance

Commercial General Insurance

Directors and Officers Policy

Disability Insurance

Flood

General Property Coverage

Life Insurance

Medical Health Insurance

Workers Compensation and Employers' Liability

Government Licenses

Organization Licensed by the GovernmentNo

Plans

Fundraising PlanNo

Communication PlanNo

Strategic PlanNo

Strategic Plan Years

Strategic Plan Adopted 0

Management Succession PlanNo

Continuity of Operations PlanNo

Policies

Nondiscrimination PolicyYes

Whistle Blower PolicyYes

Document Destruction PolicyYes

Directors and Officers Insurance PolicyNo

Policies and ProceduresYes

Comments

Management Comments by Organization

School choice in the US has become important for more families than at any time in the history of this country. For the better part of the educational history of our country, only the wealthy could afford to make a school choice for their children. That restriction on the middle and lower socio-economic classes is fading away in large part because of the charter school movement. And overall, that has proven to be a positive force for all parties involved.

School choice, and charter schools in particular, help to sharpen the district schools themselves because competition has its benefits, all the way around. The large district public high schools are sometimes not the right fit for every student in our community. The close-knit community of SMA, both its campus and student-body size, provide oversight and safety that a gigantic district school campus cannot.

The unique Army JROTC program incorporates disciple, respect, and patriotism that otherwise may not be embraced in a public school environment. SMA's students willingly SIGN UP for the program, knowing full well the discipline and behavioral expectations that come along with an all-cadet environment.

Army JROTC gives every single cadet the opportunity to become a leader according to his or her ability and desire, and lead they must. SMA aims to provide not only a college prep academic curriculm, but exposure to civic respect and responsibility that will enable a graduating cadet to make good choices and serve their community as a quality citizen.

Multi-Media Comments by OrganizationThere are unique aspects to the SMA experience, including the JROTC Raiders team and drum line. Character building is at the heart of what we endeavor to exposure the SMA Cadets to throughout their high school careers. Character building comes in different forms and angles for different students; here are just two things that make SMA unique and rewarding for our Cadets.

As the Sarasota Military Academy enters its fourteenth year, we have achieved many milestones but none as exciting and challenging as the start of Sarasota Military Academy Prep Middle School.

Opening in August 2014, SMA Prep will serve the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The middle school endeavor has been in the Board of Directors' thinking for many years. It is evident that a preparatory middle school that provides exemplary academics and character building principles would be widely received. We hope to invite all middle school graduates to enroll into SMA high school. This will extend the opportunity to develop themselves into fully functioning and productive citizens upon high school graduation so they may be successful in whatever their chosen path may be.

SMA, a public charter high school, receives district and state tax dollars for operational expenses; however, as a charter school, it does not receive 100% of the per student dollars that noncharter public schools enjoy. Presently, SMA operates at a fiscal disadvantage of approximately $1,286 per student which means SMA is down over 1 million dollars annually. With that said, SMA's administration team endeavors to steward every dollar it receives and as a result, operates in the black with a current reserve of over 1 million dollars for emergency needs.

Having less to work with has not impeded SMA's commitment to quality instruction or educational experience. And while that work is not simple or easy, SMA attracts young people and their families to pur themselves in a position to grow and become model citizens and excellent students. SMA is very proud of its cadets, and the cadets testify to that excellence not only at school each day, but in their personal walks of life.

SMA's operational budget is presently being met by the tax dollars it receives from state and district funding; that is not SMA's challenge. The school and its impact grows every year and the need to provide standard and up-to-date facilities has gone beyond the school's ability to do it alone~that is the challenge facing SMA. The campus will now use approximately 6-8 portable classroom units to supply space needs as we endeavor to raise sufficient funds to build the next expansion phase. The community has embraced SMA and realizes the educational philosophy it employs makes significant impact on the young lives of its students.

We at SMA believe the community will respond and help to support and propel the necessary means to keep improving the SMA experience for each of its cadets and their families. The unique time in a young person's life, his or her high school experience, can often determine which way he or she will go in this life. SMA takes its responsibility very seriously in the way in which we all endeavor to lead and direct sound choices for a lifetime model of good learning and citizenship.

Financial Comments by FoundationFoundations and corporations are included with individual contributions as they are not separated in the 990 or audit. Financial figures were taken from the 990s. The financial statements and Federal 990s reconcile.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY, INC. IS A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER
SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA) OR FROM THE WEBSITE:
WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM.
REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) OF
EACH CONTRIBUTION IS RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY. REGISTRATION #SC-02471.

Profiles in The Giving Partner do not indicate endorsement by partner foundations.